Beet harvester



June 20, 1933. H. M. SIEMANN I .9 9

,, BERT HARVESTER Filed March 22, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l duo nwq June 20, 1933. H. M. SIEMANN BEET, HARVESTER I Filed March ,22, 19:52

3 SheetsSheet 2 m umu June 29, 1933. H. M. SIEMANN 1,914,621

BEET HARVESIIER Filed March 22, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 20, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRY I. 01 PORT LUPTON, ASSIGNOB OI roan-1mm m CENT T EUGENE DE ma, 0! F031 LUPTON, GONE-ADO mini mvnsm Application ma larch 2:, 103a. 8cm! Io. 00am.

This invention relates to a beet harvesting machine and has for its principal object the provision of an efiicient harvester which will pick up the beets as they are dug and carry them to an aligning "device which will automatically align and pass them to cutting knives to remove the tops therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to pro.- vide means for grabbing the beets by their 1 foliage or tops and holding them until the tops have been severed therefrom and then releasing the tops.

A further ob'ect is to so construct the toppin portion 0 the device that it will automatically cut a deeper top from a large beet than from a small one.

A still further object is to provide an adjustment for the depth of digging independent of an adjustment for the point at which the tops are grabbed and held.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for sim licity, economy, and efliciency. These will come more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings which form a part'hereof. Like numerals refer to like arts in all views of the drawings and throng outthe descrip tion. Y V

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side'elevation of the improved harvester.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section therethrough taken on the line 2-2, Fig. 3.'

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the rear or topping portion of the harvester.

Fig 4 is a detail section through the clamp chain guide track.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the guide track taken on the .line 5-5,

a Fig. 4.

ig. 6 is a detail view of the hinge em-' ployed in the top clamping mechanism.

This view is taken on the line 6-6, Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the aligning guide spring taken on the line 7-7, F1 3.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the digging plows.

The invention comprises a supporting frame 10 supported at its rear extremity on drive wheels 11 and at its forward extremity on guide wheels 12. The drive wheels are fixed to a rear axle 36. A plow frame 13 is hinged at 14 within the main frame 10. The plow frame 13 supports a pair of beet lifting plows 15 upon the usual p ow arms 16. The forward extremity of the plow frame 13 is supported on "hangers 17 from crank levers 18 which can be operatedby means of a hand lever 19 to raise and lower the forward extremity of the plow frame 13 and regulate the depth at which the plows 15 operate. Top ide arms 20 extend forwardly from the p ow arms 16 to pick up and con no the beet tops as the machine approaches them.

A chain frame 21 operates within the low frame 13. The rearward extremity o the chain frame 21 is pivoted'at 22 to a pair of standards 23 which extend upwardly fromthe main frame 10. The forward extremityof the chain frame 21 is supported from the plow frame 13 upon cams 24 which contact with the plow frame 13 and are carried on a cam shaft journalled upon the frame 21. The cams can be. 0 rated so as to raise and lower the forwar extremity of the chain frame 21 with reference to the plow frame 13' by means of an operatin lever 25 which is connected with the cam s aft through a suitable connectin link 26..

Thus, it wi be noted that operation of the hand lever 19 will raise or lower the forward extremities of both the frames 13 and 21 and that operation of the hand lever 25 will only raise or lower the forward extrem ity of the chain lever 21.

A curved chain track 27 is supported from the chain frame 21'. This track serves to guide a link belt or chain 28 in a predeter- D0 downward y opening channel member alo the bottom edges of which inwardly turn angle members are placed which serve to 7 support the rollers 29. The chain 28 travels over a forward sprocket 31 which is sup rted on the forward extremity of the c ain frame 21 and is driven from area s rocket 32, which is fixed on a sprocket s aft 33 ournalled on the standards 23. The upper reach of the chain 28 is supported on suitable idler sprockets 39. The lower reach of the chain 28 travels rearwardly as the machine moves forwardly.

The shaft 33 is driven through the medium of a drive chain 34 from a drive s rocket 35 which rides on the rear axle 36. he drive sprocket can be operatively connected with t e rear axle 36 through the medium of a clutch dog 37 which can be operated from the driversv position by means of a clutch 'handle38.

Certain of the links of the chain 28 are provided with hinge cars 40 in which resillent spring arms 41 are hinged. The outer extremities of the ring arms 41 carry gripping jaws 42. cse gripping jaws are caused to move toward or away from each other by means of side roller bars 43 which engage rollers 44 on the spring arms 41 as the chain travels. The roller bars 43 are supported from the chain track 27. The

spring arms 41 are constantly urged outwardly by means of springs 45 and are moved inwardly by the action of the roller eratien, the lifting lows 15 loosen evs'te the beets :Irem t -e soil as shown fig. The spring arms and their gripping jaws move downwardly at each side cf the beet tops and when opposite a top. are forced together by means of the roller bars '23 so as to firmly grip the beet top. The resilient spring arms 41 act to cushion the action of the gripping jaws so they engage the taps so that t ey will automatically sc commodaie themselves to tops of various size and density. The gripped beets are then ated, as the chain foilows the chain track At the rear of .e machine the rollers leave the roller and carried rearwsrdly.

'3 bars and allow the spring arms 41 to snap span to release the beet tops.

it wili be noted that the chain track toward the rear of the machine carries the beets in a practically horizontal line and it is at this point that the topping mechanism is located. The topping mechanism comprises a pair of rearwardly extending knife brackets 46 positioned at each side of the path of travel of the beets. The knife brackets 46 are hingedat their forward extremity on laterally. Hinges-48 are incorporated in the brackets 46 so as to allow a vertical move-" ment of their rearward extremities. The

combination of the shafts 47 and the hinges 48 provides a universal hinge or mounting that allows the knife brackets 46 to be swun "in any desired direction. The two kni e brackets 46 are secured to ether adjacent their rearward extremities iy means of a bolt 49 which asses through a slotted opening so as to a ow lateral separation of the frames. A s rin hold .the two rac ets 46 toward'each other.

The vertical shafts 47 operate chain s rockets 51 from each of which an endless c ain 52 extends rearwardly to drive a disc knife 53journalled adjacent the rear of the brackets 46. The chains 52 are provided with projecting members 54 which serve to assist in drawing the beets rearwardly and forcing them into the knives. As the beets move rearwardly between the chains 52 they are forced between a pair of guide rollers 55. The rollers 55 are carried onthe extremities of flexibly mounted guide bars 56. The guide bars 56 are arranged so that they can be forced outwardly against the compression of springs 57, see Fig. 5, which act to cushion their action en the beets.

The guide bars 56 are arranged a sufiicient distance below the clamping jaws 42 so that as each beet comes up the chain will be pulled against the bottom of the guide late 56 so that all beets will be aligned a ong their tops as they approach the knives 53. If the gripping jaws have caught the top close to the beet the guide bars will tend to pull the beet from the jaws. If tightly held,

the brackets 46 be lifted on the hinges 48 by the best to properiy align the knives therewith. The brackets 46 are flexibly floated on tension springs 60.

It is desirable that the larger beets be cut at s. This is accomplished in this machine by a pair of diagonally positioned hinge arms 58 which bear against the knives at their lower extremities and, as the brackets 46 are swung apart by a large beet, they will tend to force the knives dcwnwardly against the compres sion of knife springs 59 sothat the lar,er heets will he cut at a greater depth. .e iuiivesbfii are mounted on a square or s lined shaft so that they can move downwar y and still be caused to rotate. As the beet moves between the guide bars 56 it will, if large, tend to force the two brackets 46 outwardly and act to separate the knives 53, the amount it: separation depending upon the size of the The heels of the digging plows 15 are tied together by means of a cross tie member 62 which prevents them from being forced 5O .constantly tends to cater depth than the smaller beets.

apart by the beets. The gripping jaws lift Eli 'tioned within said main rame; said plow the beets above this tie member so that it will not interfere with the digging operation.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein; it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the'scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is 1. A beet harvesting machine comprising: a pair of lifting plows adapted to lift the beets from the soil; an endless chain positioned above said plows; gripping jaws carried by said chain and adapted to grip the tops of the beets as they are lifted by said plows and convey them upwardly; means for causing said chain to travel in a predetermined path, said means comprising, a curvilinear track adapted to engage and guide said chain. I

2. A beet harvesting machine comprising: a main wheeled frame; a plow frame positioned within said main frame; said plow frame being hinged to said main frame adjacent its rearward extremity; plows depending from said plow frame; adjustable means for supporting the forward extremity of said plow'frame from said main frame; achain frame positioned within said plow frame and hingedly supported adjacent its rearward extremity; adjustable means for supporting the forward extremity of said chain frame; an endless chain supported by said chain frame; and gripping jaws on said chain adapted to engage the tops of the beets as they are dug by said plows.

3. A beet harvesting machine comprising: a main wheeled frame; a low frame posi frame being hinged to said main frame adjacent its rearward extremity; plows depending from said plow frame; adjustable means for supporting the forward extremity of said plow frame from said main frame; a chain frame positioned within said plow frame and hingedly supported adjacent its rearward extremity; adjustable means for supporting the forward extremity of said chain frame; an endless chain supported by said chain frame; gripping jaws on said chain adapted to engage the-tops of the beet-s as they are dug by said plows; and a track adapted to be engaged by said chain so as to guide the latter' in a predetermined path. I

4. A beet harvesting machine comprising:

a main wheeled frame; a plow frame posi-- tioned within said main frame; said plow frame being hinged to said main frame adjacent its rearward extremity; plows depending from said plow frame; adjustable means for supporting the forward extremity of said plow frame from said main frame; a chain frame positioned within said plow frame and .hin'gedly supported adjacent its rearward extremity; ad ustable means for supporting the forward extremity of said chain frame; an endless chain supported by said chain frame; gripping jaws on said chain adapted to engage the tops of the beets as they are dug by said plows; a track adapted to be engaged by said chain so as to guide the later in a predetermined path; and a topping mechanism positioned in said path so as to top said beets as they travel along said track.

5. A beet harvesting machine comprising: a main wheeled frame; a plow frame positioned within said main frame; said plow frame being hinged to said main frame adjacent its rearward extremity; plows depending from said plow frame; adjustable means for supporting the forward extremity of said low frame from said main frame; a chain rame positioned within said plow frame and hingedly supported adjacent 1ts rearward extremity; adjustable means for supporting the forward extremity of said chain frame; an endless chain supported by said chain frame; gripping jaws on said chain adapted to engage the tops of the beets as they are dug by said plows; a track adapted to be engaged by said chain so as "to guide the latter in a predetermined path; a topping mechanism positioned in said path so as to top said beets as they travel along said track, said topping mechanism comprising, guide bars adapted to engage the tops of said beets; and rotating knives positioned at the rearward extremity of said guide bars so as to engage said beets as they pass therethrough.

6. A. beetharvesting machine comprising: a main wheeled frame; a plow frame positioned within said main frame; said plow frame being hinged to said main frame ad jacent its rearward extremity; plows de' pending from said plow frame; adjustable means for supporting the forward extremity of said plow frame from said main frame;

.a chain frame positioned within said plow frame and hingedly supported adjacent its rearward extremity; ad ustable means for supporting the forward extremity of said chain frame; an endless chain supported by said chain frame; gripping jaws on said chain adapted to engage the tops of the beets as they are dug by said plows; a track adapted to be engaged by said chain so as to guide the latter in a predetermined path; a topping mechanism positioned in said path so as to top said beets as they travel along said track, said topping mechanism comprising, guide bars adapted to engage the tops of said beets; rotating knives positioned at the rearward extremity of said guide bars so as to engage said beets as they pass therethrough; and an endless chain driving each of said knives there being one of, said chains at each side of the path of said'beets, said latter chains enga said beets and forc' them toward said l i iives. mg

7. A chain-carried, grippin device for beet harvesters comprising: a c ain link; an 5 arm hinged at each side of said chain link;

co-acting gripping jaws carried atthe extremities of said arms; means for forcing said arms toward each other so that said gripping jaws will grip the top of a beet at a premens- 1% determined point in the trave of siid o ain, said arms having resilient material incorporated therein so as to cushion the action of said gripping jaws.

In testimony whereof. I afiix m signature.

- HENRY M. SIfiMANN. 

